A Kilt Style Guide: From Black Tie to Streetwear in Photographic Examples

**CMcG** · 13th August 11, 06:57 PM

I helped a friend buy his first kilt the other day and then showed him some pictures of myself wearing different types of kilt attire. He seemed to find it helpful and I’ve decided to post the images here in case other people might also be interested.

In keeping with the general idea of the “1 Kilt, 10 Looks” thread, I’ve roughly divided this into levels of formality. As a variation on the theme, however, I have only 5 categories but have put 4 examples in each. In the social circles that I run in, dress codes are fairly relaxed: I’ve never done ‘white tie’ (what some people call ‘full formal’) and so my other levels have been adjusted accordingly. Nonetheless, I find myself inspired to dress just a little better when I wear the kilt! The majority is more or less traditional Highland attire, but there are also some contemporary, modern, and Irish influences.

I hope that this will show a range of options within any given level of formality, though I do not presume to consider my efforts to be definitive or complete. Many thanks are due to the members of Xmarks who have offered much helpful advice and even sent me accessories. Any failings are, however, my own and should not reflect on those who have tried to guide me.

I welcome comments and/or for people to post their own contributions in the form of pictures!

FORMAL

I don’t own a doublet, but my dress Braemar jacket (like a dress Argyle but with flap cuffs) works nicely with formal evening wear accouterments: diced or Argyle hose with flashes (someday I’ll get yellow garter ties…), self-tie black bowtie or stock tie, white formal shirt, hair or fur + metal cantle sporran, highly polished black cap toe oxfords, dress sgian dubh, etc. My doeskin mess jacket provides my other option for formal wear and I recently acquired some buckle ghillie brogues that I have not taken for a test run yet. A waistcoat completes the look for me better than a belt, so I’m showing several different types in these pics. In warmer weather, however, I might go with fewer layers by swapping the vest for a shiny waist-plate belt.

SEMI-FORMAL

My dress Braemar jacket shows its versatility by also working for semi-formal occasions: formal daytime dress or dressy – though not quite formal – eveningwear. For accessories, I mostly favor solid colour hose with flashes, a solid colour or white dress shirt, shined brogues or oxfords, hunting or plain sporran (anytime) or fur + metal cantle sporran (evening only), jacket with waistcoat, sgian dubh, and a four-in-hand tie. As an exception, my diced hose might come out for a very dressy occasion and in hot weather I might either remove the jacket or swap the waistcoat for a waistplate or simple belt.

**CMcG** · 13th August 11, 06:59 PM

DRESSY

This is the realm of the tweed jacket, solid colour hose with flashes, patterned shirt or solid colour shirt (though in these photos the distance makes my tattersal invisible), simple or hunting sporran, brogues (or maybe polished boots if it were a wedding in a field), and more rustic sgian dubh. I wish I had a waistcoat that matched my jacket, but I do like the relaxed look of them being different colours. Again for warm weather, I would skip the waistcoat and go with belt but this time it would be a simpler buckle. This level of dress is sometimes called ‘daywear’ but I think it is also appropriate for less formal – but still dressy – evening events too. At a less Scottish and more contemporary affair, I might go with just a crisp white Mandarin collar shirt and waistcoat instead.

SMART CASUAL

For times when I’m kilting up but dressing down in formality, or when the weather gets warm, I go for smart casual style. Simple or hunting sporran, rustic sgian, brogues or casual oxfords, and I still like to wear hose with flashes. No jacket required, though I could see myself wearing a tweed Crail with no tie. Various types of button down casual shirts paired with either a plain leather belt or a waistcoat/sweater. Another variation would be a polo/golf shirt.

**CMcG** · 13th August 11, 07:00 PM

STREETWEAR

This is sort of informal “anything goes” and, though I usually lean towards a more traditional kilt look, horses for courses right? A bright green Celtics jacket and wool flatcap for the Saint Pat’s parade; solid green kilt with scrunched down hose, parade boots, and cotton flatcap for an Irish punk band concert; tee shirt and no sporran for studying at home; and a Utilikilt with boots, scrunched hose, Ronin E-Ville tee shirt, and camouflage cadet hat for my next DJ gig. No sgian dubh for any of these… and no kilt pin or sporran for the Utilikilt.

**Downunder Kilt** · 13th August 11, 09:10 PM

Great set of examples CMcG. I must of missed the doeskin mess jacket on previous threads. I think it looks great. The only thing I am not too keen on is the tartan waistcoat in the dressy section, just not my cup of tea that's all.

I think pairing the darker green waistcoat with the lovat green jacket works a treat and I reguarly do the same, though my waistcoat is doeskin.

Thanks for the trouble you've gone to, setting this up for us

**Ancienne Alliance** · 13th August 11, 09:53 PM

Well done !

Excellent !

Best,

Robert

**mookien** · 13th August 11, 09:56 PM

Thanks so much for this excellent posting! It ranks right up there with "1 Kilt, 10 Looks ..." from Panache and McMurdo. I've already bookmarked it for future reference. There are scads of ideas in all those pictures, and I plan to steal a lot of them.

I'm a big fan of tartan waistcoats, but I like them cut on the bias to provide a visual break from the kilt. Now, it looks like I'm going to have to order another one.